Automatic knitting-machine



(No Model.) 8 Shets-Shqet 1.

W. H. ZELLERS.

. AUTOMATIC KNITTING MACHINE. No. 548,946. Patented Oct. 29, 1895.

Witnesses. Inventor.

Wk/Ma 6%,

I Attorney.

ANDREW BIGRMIAM. PHOTOUI'HQWASHINGTON. U5

(No Model.)

' 8 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. H. ZELLERS.

AUTOMATIC KNITTING MACHINE.

lgatented 0%.29, 1895.

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No. 548,946. Patented Oct. 29, 1895.

Attorney.

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Witnesses m Model.) f v s Sheets-Sheet 5.

W. H. ZELLERS.

v AUTOMATIC KNITTING MACHINE. No. 548,946. Patented Oct. 29, 1895.

li'lllll Witnesses. Inventor,

W r s J w v Q%QZLMW flcz Attorney.

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 6.

l W. H. ZELLERS.

. AUTOMATIC KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 548,946. Patented Oct. 29, 1895.

Inventor].

Witnesses.

Attorney.

"(No Model.) s Shegts-Sheet 7.

w. H. Z ELLERS. v APTOMATIG KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 548,946. I Paiented Oct. 29, 1895.-

Attorney.

ANDREW 5.6RAHAM. PHOTO-i-ITKQWAS MXNFI'UNJIJ.

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 8.

W. H. ZELLERSQ AUTOMATIC KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 548,946. Patented 0%)29, I895.

W itnesses.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. ZELLERS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC KNITTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,916, dated October29, 1895.

7 Application filed December 8,1894. Serial No. 531,182. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. ZELLERS, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city and county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomatic Knitting- Machines, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates particularly, though not exclusively, to thatclass of circular-knitting machines wherein automatic mechanism isemployed for periodically effecting the dis engagement and re-engagementof certain needles from and with the knitting-cams for the purpose ofnarrowing and widening the Web, respectively, the same being requisiteduring the formation of the heel and toe parts of a stocking.

The present invention applies more especially to the mechanismcomprehended in and by my Letters Patent of the United States No.476,110, dated May 31, 1892, wherein is described a series ofvertically-movable bits or fingers of varying lengths constructed andarranged to co-operate with a corresponding series of needles tomaintain the latter normally engaged with the knitting-cams, togetherwith means for operating said bits or fingers as a unit, to render suchneedles idle and active at predetermined intervals, as will more fullyappear by reference to said patent.

The leading features of the invention herein embrace, first, certainimprovements in the construction and arrangement of the needle-cylinder,the bit-cylinder, and the cam, cylinder, and of their adjuncts,respectively, whereby advantages are secured; secondly, automatic meanswherebythe continuous rotary and the rotary reciprocating movements areimparted to the cam cylinder at prescribed stages of the knittingoperation; thirdly, means whereby the requisite step-bystep movementsare imparted to the needle-' controlling bit mechanism during thereciprocating operation; fourtbly, means for periodically supplying anadditional or splicing thread with the'main thread or threads; fifthly,a novel and advantageous construction of the pattern-chain, and,finally, various features of construction and organization of theseveral eating cam and its adjuncts.

' the thread-feed devices.

parts of the mechanisms referred to whereby a compact, efficient, andcomparatively simple automatic knitting-machine is provided, all ofwhich will he hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is aside elevation of the machine withthe thread-feeding mechanism omitted. Fig. 2 is a plan thereof. Fig. 3isalongitudinal vertical section as on line a a of Fig. 2. Fig. 3 'isaface view of the'loose pulley on the driving-shaft. Figs. 4 and 5 aretransverse vertical sections as-on the lines I) b and c a, respectively,of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail in end and front view of the coactingratchet-wheels 'on the pattern-chain shaft. Fig. 4 is a detailof theratchet mechanism for controlling the bit devices. Fig. 5 is a detail ofthe bolt-recipro- Fig. 6 is atransverse vertical section as on the line03 d of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a transverse horizontal section as on the linee e of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a detail in section of devices forindependently operating the bit-supporting segment. Figs. 9 and 10 arevertical sections, on an enlarged scale, through one side of thecylinders, showing a needle in and out of action, respectively, togetherwith their adjunctive parts. Fig. 9 is a sectional detail showing theoperation of the sinker-cam. Fig. 11 is an enlarged plan of a portion ofthe cam-cylinder, showing the reciprocative stud-cams and the means foroperating them. Fig. 11 is a section on line ff, Fig. 11. Fig. 12illustrates a front view and a vertical section of a portion of thepatternchain. Figs. 14 and 14 illustrate the knittingcams developed,showing their action upon the neodles during the knitting of straightand fash- Fig. 13 is a development of the bits.

ioned'work, respectively. Fig. 15 is a plan of Figs. 16 and 17 are sideand end elevations thereof, respectively. Fig. 18 is a perspective view,enlarged, of the forward end of the reciprocative thread-guiding tube.

The numeral 1 designates a bed-plate in which is supported an elongatedperipherallygrooved cylinder 2, hereinafter termed the bit cyIinder. Theupper portion of the cyl inder is reduced, as at 3, to receive the usualneedle-oylindere. Surroundingthelower portion of the needle-cylinderisthe cam-cylinder 5, the flanged bottom of which is supported upon thebed-plate and is provided with bevel gear-teeth 6, which are engaged bythe teeth of a bevel-wheel 7 on a horizontal drivingshaft 8, as usual.

On the interior of the bit-cylinder are two vertically-oppositeperforated lugs 9, in which is supported a vertical rod 10, the upperend of which is bent to form a stud 11, that may be turned into or outof a registering slot 12 and groove 13 in the overlapping portions ofthe bit and needle cylinders, respectively, whereby said parts may bereadily locked together or released. The lower end of this rod extendsbelowthe bit-cylinderand is provided with a suitable handle whereby itmay be manipulated. Fitted looselyon the periphcry of theneedle-cylinder is a ring 14., which rests upon an internal shoulder onthe camcylinder when the former cylinder is applied to the machine. Onthis ring are two diametrically-opposite pins 15, which extend throughslots or recesses 16 in the top of the cam-cylinder and through orificesin vertically-arranged latch-plates 17 on the exterior of thecam-cylinder. Hence while the ring rotates with the cam-cylinder itcloses the space between the latter and the needle-cylinder to theexclusion of dust, 850. Thelower ends of the latch-plates are looselyapplied to screw-pins 18 on the cam-cylinder, springs 19 beinginterposed between the plates and the screw-heads, respectively. By thisconstruction the plates are held normally engaged with the pins on thering, yet they may be readily disengaged therefrom by the act of drawingthe plates outward against the stress of their respective springs, inwhich case, assuming the needle and bit cylinders to be unlocked, theneedle-cylinder, with its needles 20, may be lifted bodily from themachine. The ring performs the additional function of preventing theneedles from being thrown too high by the knitting-cams, said needlesbeing provided with suitably disposed hubs 21, which impinge against thering when the needles are violently up-thrown.

Depending from the bed-plate, contiguous to the depending portion of thebit-cylinder is a bracket 22, into which freely extends a shaft 23, theinner end of said shaft being provided with gear-teeth that engage withcorresponding teeth 24 on thecylinder, Whereby the act of partiallyturningsaid shaft to the right or to the left will raise or lower thebit-cylinder and, perforce, the needle-cylinder, in consequence of whichthe length of the stitches may be increased or diminished,.as required.By means of mechanism hereinafter described the shaft 23, preparatory tothe knitting of the ankle portion of the stocking, is automaticallyturned to effect the lowering of the bitand needle cylinders, in whichposition the latter are maintained until the ankle is completed. Hencethe stitches forming the ankle are tighter than those in the precedingportion of the leg, and in consesa a quence the ankle portion isreduced. This being done, the cylinders are returned to their previousposition to permit the knitting of normal stitches in the heel.Similarly, tight and normal stitches are knit in the foot and toeportions, respectively, of the stocking, as will farther on appear.

The grooves in which are contained the half series of needles that arethrown out of action preparatory to the knitting of the heel and toeparts, as also the grooves containing the two series of needles (usuallyeach onesixth of the entire needles) which are manipulated during theoperations of widening and narrowing such parts, are of sufficient depthto permit the needles therein to be moved back-. ward out of action fromthe knitting-cams. These needles are held normally in the track of thecams by means of vertically-arranged bits 25, which are fitted to thegrooves in the bit-cylinder and are extended into the deepened groovesin theneedle-cylinderin a manner to support the backs of the proximateneedles. Said needles are held against the bits by spring-pressure, thesame, for instance, being attained by the hair-pin-like devices 26,which straddle the ribs or walls of the alternate needle-grooves, thedepending limbs of the devices being pressed yieldingly against therespective needles by means of an encircling spring-band 27, or,instead, the hair-pinlike devices may in themselves possess elasticity,the band in that case being rigid or non-elastic. Hence when a bit orbits are dropped below the contiguous needle or needles the latter,being unsupported rcarwardly, is or are pressed out of action. The bitsare connected at their lower ends to a segment 28, whereby they may beraised or lowered as a unit. Those bits which coact with the half seriesof needles are of uniform length, while those which coact with the twofashioning sets of needles are graded in lengththat is, they aregradually increased in height from the uniform set of bits, as seen inFig. 13. During the knitting of tubular work the bits occupy the extremeupward position, so that they support the respective needles andmaintain them in action. Preparatory to the knitting of the heel, thebits are dropped one step, the tops of the uniform bits thus being belowthe highest point to which the lower extremities of the needles areraised during the knitting operation. Hence during the traverse of thecam cylinder the half series of needles are raised above theirsupporting-bits, and in consequence said needles are pressed out ofaction by the spring devices above mentioned. Thereafter, during theknitting of the heel the cam-cylinder is reciprocated by mechanismhereinafter described. During eachreciprocation the bits are dropped onestep to the end that in each stroke of the reciprocation the first oroutside fashioning-needlein the path of the cams will be thrown out ofaction, continuing which operation the outside fashioning-nee- ICS ITO

dles will be alternately thrown out of action, and consequently agradual narrowing of the web will be had. This being accomplished, thebits are correspondingly moved upward, thereby returning the needles toaction in inverse order to the preceding operation, and, perforce,efiecting the requisite widening of theweb. In the final upward movementof the bits the uniform set will coact with the first out-thrown seriesof needles to return the latter simultaneously to action. Tubularknitting is then performed to knit the foot similarly with the leg,following which reciprocating work is carried on to knit the toesimilarly with the heel. The bit-supporting segment is provided with adepending rack 29, with which engages a pinion 30on a shaft 31, by theact of intermittently rotating which shaft the requisite movements willbe trans mitted to the bits. The mechanism for actuating the shaft atthe proper intervals will be hereinafter described.

In view of the fact that the corresponding bits of the respective gradedseries are of uniform length and that said bits consequently at alltimes occupy the same positions relative to each other it is obviousthat in order to efiect the disengagement of the initialfashioning-needle of the first set in the path of the knitting-camsduring the stroke of the latter Without correspondingly disengaging thelast or end needle of the other set during the stroke it is necessarythat provision be had to elevate somewhat above the summit of thelateral stitch-cam the first opposed needle during each stroke of thecamcylinder, which needle is, perforce, thrown out of action. Hencemeans are provided to insure the increased ascent of the needles abovethe lateral cams alternately during the successive strokes of thereciprocating cam-cylinder, which means are of the following"construction: On the exterior of the camcylinder opposite to theinternal knittingcams is fixed a bracket 32, which is provided near itsrespective ends with orifices 33, that register with radial perforations34 in the cam-cylinder, said perforations opening into the cylinder atthe summits of the lateral stitch-cams, respectively. (See Figs. 14 and14 h) Fitted to these openings are radiallyreciprocative studs 35,respectively, the outer ends 'of which extend beyond the bracket and arepivotally connected with the respective arms of a horizontal rockinglever 36, which-is fulcrumed midway of its ends to a lug 37 on thebracket. The length of the studs is such that if the lever be oscillatedthe inner ends of thestuds will be alternately projected and retractedabove the summits of the lateral cams, respectively. The forward facesof these inner ends are beveled coincidentally with the adjacent workingedges of the lateral cams. Pivoted to the lug at Xis anoutwardly-extending tappetarm 38, which is connected with the respectivearms of the rocking lever by pin-and-slot is fastened to the tappet-armso as to maintain the latter in a central position irrespective of theposition of the lever. The lost motion occasioned by the pin-and-slotconnections enables the arm to assume such central position relative tothe lever, and, moreover, it enables said arm to be moved farther thanis requsite to operate the studs.

Located on the bed of the machine opposite the space intermediate thefashioningneedles is a bracket 41, provided with inwardly-turned ends42, which project into the path traversed by the tappet-arm during therotation of the cam-cylinder. During the traverse of the cylinder in onedirection the tappet-arm will abut against the opposed end of thebracket and be thrust rearwardly thereby to eifect the withdrawal of theleading stud from and the insertion of the rearward pin into theinterior of the cylinder. In the reverse motion of the cylinder saidarmwill impinge against the other end of the bracket and the several partsbe conversely actuated.

As a means to hold the studs in the respective positions to which theyare set, there are fitted to perforations in the bracket 32vertically-movable pins 43, that are yieldingly depressed upon the studsby the action of suitably-disposed springs 43.

During the knitting oftubular work-as, for example, the leg of thestocking-the forward or leading stud is maintained retracted, as in Fig.14, in order that the needles maybe unaffected thereby. The rearward orinwardly projected stud does not affect the needles, owing to the latterpassing under (and not over) the rearward lateral cam.

Just before the completion of the leg the speed of the cam-cylinder isreduced by means such as hereinafter described to the end that thesucceeding r'eciprocations of said cylinder during the knitting of theheel shall be steady and easy. The'last three courses, say, of the legare knit at the slower rate of speed, during which time the bits arelowered one step. The knitting-cams preparatory to their reversal forreciprocating work conclude their stroke about the middle of thesemicircular series of needles. In the reverse stroke such needles rideupon the inwardly-projecting end ofthe leading stud, and are therebyraised above the tops of the contiguous bits and rendered inactive, thepositions of the studs being reversed in this stroke, so as not toaffect the remaining needles of the semicircular se- IIO ries until thesucceeding stroke of the knitingstep. During the first stroke of theknittingcams in the next reciprocation the first set offashioning-needles ride upon the inwardlyprojecting end of the leadingstud, the initial or outside needle in that set thus being raisedsufficiently to clear the end of the bit, and in consequence being movedout of action. As the cams in this. stroke traverse the space occupiedby the intermediate set of active needles, the tappet-arm abuts againstthe opposed end of the bracket and is moved thereby to effect thereversal of the positions of the studs. Hence the other set offashioning-needles is not raised by the leading stud,and, therefore, theouter needle thereof is not freed from its bit. In the return stroke ofthe knitting-cams the leading stud, being projected, acts upon suchouter needle and effects its disengagement from the cams. During thisstroke the tappetarm is actuated by the bracket, as in the otherinstances, to reverse the positions of the studs, and so on during eachsucceeding stroke of the knitting-cams, while knitting the heel, thepositions of the studs are reversed. The heel being completed, the studsare set' in their last stroke to the positions occupied by them duringthe knitting of theleg, whereupon the foot is formed, (with the quickspeed,) following which the tee is produced, (with the slower speed,)the studs in the latter operation being actuated as described in regardto the formation of the heel.

The sinker or web-holder mechanism herein comprises a radially-groovedannulus at, surrounding the needle cylinder near the top, and beingencircled by a rotatable cam-ring 45, which is supported by a flange 44.on the annulus. This ring is connected with the camcylinder by means oflaterally-disposed posts 46, which rise from said cylinder and extendbetween lugs 47 on the cam-ring. One of these posts supports the usualthread-carrier 48. The sinkers, marked 49, are fitted to the respectivegrooves of the annulus so as to alternate with the needles as usual, andthey, the sinkers, each comprise a vertically-arranged lever providedwith a lug or stud 50 on its inner edge, the same being engaged with acircumferential groove 51 in the annulus which constitutes the fulcrumof the lever. The upper end of the lever is provided with the usualnotched finger 52,,which is adapted to be engaged with and disengagedfrom the stitches during the knitting of the successive courses, the cam52' on the ring during its traverse engaging the depending arm of thelever and effecting the requisite movements thereof. By constructing thesinker in the form of a vertical lever a compact arrangement of theparts is had without impairing the throw of the upper or stitch engagingportion of the sinker. The inward movements are imparted to the sinkersby the flanged upper edge of the cam-ring taking against the upper armsof the sinkers. The flange is cut away, as at 52 in line with the cam 52so as to permit the outward movement of the sinkers when they areactuated by said cam, as described. (See Figs. 2 and 9*.)

The driving-shaft hereinbefore referred to is mounted in suitablebearings in an appropriate framework or housing 53, to which thebed-plate is secured. On the outer end of the shaft are the fixed andloose pulleys 5t 55, respectively. Adjacent to the pulley 55 is looselymounted on the shaft a pinion 56, the body of which is elongated andprovided with a peripheral flange 57, that takes against the web of saidpulley. This pinion engages with a spur-wheel 5S, fixed on alowerparallel shaft 59, whereby when the pinion is made fast to the loosepulley, as hereinafter ex plained, and power is thereupon applied to thelatter motion will be transmitted through the coacting gear-wheels tothe lower shaft. Surrounding the pinion is a sliding collar or clutchmember, on which is a stud 6l,that extends into a perforation in theflange of the pinion. On the opposed face of the web of pulley 55 is aseries of sockets 62, into which the stud may be projected by propermovement of the clutch member to lock the pinion and the pulleytogether. Said clutch member is connected with a yoke 63 on one end of alongitudinally-movable shaft 64, which shaft is fitted to perforatedbrackets 65 66 on the frame. On the shaft is a collar 67, between whichand the bracket 66 is an encircling spiral spring 68, that acts to forcethe shaft 64. normally inward in a manner to maintain the clutchdisengaged from the loose pulley. Fitted to the bracket 66 is the studor pivot of a lever 69, one arm of which is connected with the yoke bymeans of a link 70, whereby by properly manipulating said lever theclutch member may be engaged with or disengaged from' the loose pulley,as desired. Loosely mounted on the shaft 8 at an interval apart are twowheels 71 72, oneof which '71 is a pinion and the other of which 72 is asprocket-wheel. The pinion engages a spurwheel 73, which is looselymounted on the lower shaft 59 adjacent to the wheel 58, the hub of saidspur-wheel being provided with a spring-controlled pin 74., which isprojected yieldingly against an inclined circular tooth 75 on theopposed hub of the wheel 58, whereby if the latter be turned in onedirection the tooth thereof will engage the pin and correspondingly turnthe wheel 73; but if the wheel be driven ina reverse direction the pinwill ride idly upon the tooth without effecting the coupling of the twowheels. The sprocket-wheel 72 is geared by means of a chain 76 withalarger sprocket-wheel 77, fast on said shaft 59. Fixed on the shaft 8between the fianges or collars of the pinion and sprocket-wheels is ablock or head 78, to which is fitted a longitudinally movableclutch-bolt 79. The ends of this belt comprise pins which areconstructed to be engaged with and disengaged from sockets in theopposed faces of the collars, respectively that is, when the bolt isengaged with one col- IIO lar it is disengaged from the other, and viceversa. Hence by properly moving the bolt either the pinion or thesprocket-wheel may be looked upon the shaft, as desired. The means forautomatically actuating the bolt at predetermined intervals will appearfarther on.

Mounted in suitable hearings in the frame 53, rearward of and parallelwith the shaft 8, is an intermittently-rotatable shaft 80, on the outerend of which is a sprocketwheel 81, which carries the pattern-chain 82.Suitably located on the shaft 80 are four ratchet-wheels 83, 84, 85, and86, the two outer wheels 83 and 86 being fast on the shaft and the twoinner wheels 84 and 85 being connected by a sleeve 87, which is looselymounted on the shaft, said last-named wheels thus being practically onewheel. All the wheels have a corresponding number of similarly pitchedor inclined teeth, but the inner wheels 84: and 85, as will be observed,are larger in diameter than the others. The alternate teeth in the wheel85 are deepened, so as to register with the corresponding teeth in theadjacent smaller wheel 86, while in the wheel 84 only twodiametrically-opposite teeth are deepened to register with the proximateteeth of the wheel 83. Engaging with the wheels are two pawls S8 and 89,respectively, which are connected by means of straps 90 withcorresponding eccentrics 91 on the shaft 8, whereby during the rotationof said shaft the pawls are recipro cated and the said ratchet-wheelsintermittently rotated. Each of the pawls is wide enough to extend overthe two ratchet-teeth. Hence when the alternate deep teeth of the wheel85 are engaged by the pawl 89 said wheel and, perforce, the wheel 86 andshaft 80 will be thereupon advanced-that is, said shaft will be advancedone step during every second stroke of the pawl while the latter is inaction. Similarly the pawl 88 will engage the two diametrically-oppositedeep teeth in the wheel 84; during each half-revolution thereof and thusengage the fixed wheel 83. While the shaft; is being intermittentlyrotated, the pattern-chain is advanced link by link to control thevarious parts of the machine, the links having appropriately-formedsurfaces thereon to effect the end in view. During tubular orstraight-ahead knitting the chain is at rest; otherwise amultiplicity ofuniform links would be required. The action of the shaft 80 is arrestedpreparatory to the commencement of the leg of the stocking by raisingthe pawl 89 out of engagement with the ratchet-wheels, which operationis effected by means of a suitably-disposedrocking shaft 92, having onone end a crankarm 93, provided with a projecting pin 94, which isadapted to take against a lateral lug on the pawl-arm, and having on theother end a toe 95 that rests upon the pattern-chain. When a link with ariser thereon coacts with the toe, the shaft 92 is turned sufficientlyto raise the pin against the lug on the pawl-arm,

thereby'throwing the latter out of action. Meanwhile the pawl 88 engagesthe teeth of the wheel 8t and moves the latter idly on the shaft half arevolution, whereupon said pawl engagesthe deep tooth in the wheel 84and advances the latter and, perforce, wheel 83 and the shaft 80 adistance of one tooth. The raised link is thus moved beyond the toe 95and a plane or low link takes its place. The arm drops, and inconsequence the pin is removed from the pawl 89, whereupon the latterre-engages the ratchet-wheels and operates the sarne as before. In thisoperation the shaft 80 is rotated a half-revolution, the links as theyare successively advanced controlling the mechanism for producing theheel of the stocking. Upon the completion of the operation a link with ariserisbrought below the toe on the rock-shaft 92, as in the otherinstance above described, and the pawl 89 is thus likewise raised out ofaction to render the chain quiescent. The knitting of the foot is nowpursued, the other pawl 88 racking the wheel 81L idly on its shaft ahalfrevolution until the deep tooth is engaged, whereupon the riser-linkis moved onward and a plane or low link is brought below the toe on therock-shaft. The pawl 89 thus becomes active, as before, the chain isimpelled, and the operation of knitting the toe of the stocking iscarried on. Following this, the knitting of the leg is taken up, and theforegoing-described operations are repeated in the order named. I

During tubular knitting the belt runs upon the fixed pulley, so as toimpart continuous rotary motion to the shaft 8, and, perforce, to thecam-cylinder, the clutch-bolt being engaged with the pinion 71, so as tolock the latter on the shaft. Hence the pinionturns the spur-wheel 73idly on the shaft 59.

The shipper-frame 96 is supported on one end of a longitudinally-movablehorizontal shaft 97, whereby the belt may be transferred from one pulleyto the other. This shaft is fitted to a sleeve 98, which is fixedlysupported on the free ends ofa pair of rearwardly-extending arms 99,that are loosely mounted on a transverse shaft 100, borne in the frame53. The sleeve is partially slotted longitudinally, and the shaft 97 isprovided with a pin 10], that extends through the slots in the sleeve.Interposed between the pin and one of. the arms is a spiral spring 102,the tendency of which is to move said shaft toward the cylinder and thusmaintain the shipper-frame adjacent to the loose pulley. Suitablydisposed on the shaft 97 is a fixed head 103, the function of which willdirectly appear. One of the arms is provided with a heel 104, that ridesupon the links of the pattern-chain, the predetermined variations insuch links raising or lowering the arm and, perforce, correspondinglymoving the shaft 97. During tubular'knitting the heel rides upon theplane or low faces of the links and therefore the shaft 97 occupies thedown position, said bus oscillation of the vertical rock-shaft.

shaft under such circumstances being forced outward against the stressof the spring in a manner to maintain the shipper adjacent to the fixedpulley. Theshaft is forced outward and held in this position by an arm105 bearing against the head on the shaft. This arm is fixed to theupper end of a verticallyarranged rock-shaft 106, which is mounted inbrackets 107 on the frame. On the lower end of the rock-shaft is an arm109, which is held yieldingly in contact with the periphery of aneccentric 110 on the shaft 59 by the torsional action of a spiral spring111, which, encircling the vertical shaft, has its respective endssecured to'the upper bracket 107 and the arm 109. During tubularknitting the shaft 59 is idle and consequently the eccentric maintainsthe parts in the relative positions described.

Upon the completion of the leg of the stocking a link with a riserthereon is advanced beneath the heel on arm 99, such riser thereuponraisiug the arm and with it the shaft 97 and its connections. The headthus being lifted above the rocker-arm 105, the spring 102, expanding,returns the shaft totheinward position and in consequence transfers thebelt onto the pulley 55. The latter thereupon rotates the pinion 56,which in turn impels the coacting spur-wheel 58 on the shaft 59. Thisshaft and, perforce, the eccentric thereon are thus rotated in concertwith the pinion, said eccentric in its motion effecting the continu-Immediately before the first turn of the shaft 59 the clutch-bolt 79,hereinbefore referred to, is engaged with the sprocket-wheel 72 to lockit on the main shaft. Hence the motion is transmitted from the shaft 59to the main shaft through the sprocket-gearing, such motion being timedto effect the movement of the cam-cylinder one stroke. This done, theclutch-bolt is disengaged from. the sprocketwheel and engaged with thepinion 71, in which case the motion is transmitted from the shaft 59 tothe shaft 8 in a contrary direction, such motion being timed to effectthe reverse stroke of the cam-cylinder. Thus the clutch is alternatelyengaged with and disengaged from the sprocket-wheel and the pinion, andin consequence a rotary reciprocating movement is imparted to the mainshaft and is transmitted therefrom to the camcylinder. By means of thesystem of gearing above described it will be obvious that thecam-cylinder is driven at a reducel rate of speed while"reciprocating.

A means which I have devised for reciprocating the clutch-bolt is asfollows: On the body of the clutch-bolt is fixed a plate 112, having twooppositely-disposed cams or inclines 00 and y, respectively. On theinner wall of the housing or bearing in which the block 78 is containedis a fixed pin 113, which is so arranged relatively to the path of thecam that during the rotation of the block the incline 0c impingesagainst the pin and thrusts the bolt toward and into engagement with thepinion. Fitted to a perforation 114C in the said housing, laterally ofthe stud, is a radially-movable stud 115, the inner end of which may beprojected into or retracted from the path of the cam, as required.During tubular knitting this stud is retracted, so that it does not actupon the cam; but during reciprocating work it is projected into thepath traversed by the incline y in the reverse stroke of the shaft, saidincline in that case abutting against the stud and being forced,together with the bolt, toward the sprocket-wheel for the purpose abovedescribed. The outer end of the stud is pivotally connected with acrankarm 116 on a suitably-located rock-shaft 117, by the operation ofwhich shaft the positions of the stud are determined, as will dulyappear. Upon the completion of the heel or the toe of the stocking theshaft 97 assumes the down position, the arm 105 acting upon the head 103and resetting the belt-shipper, as above described.

In order that the operation of the machine may be arrested at any timeduring the knitting of the tubular foot or leg of the stocking,

' I provide the lever 69 with an arm 69, which is so arranged that ifthe lever be moved to retract the clutch from the pulley 55 said armwill bear against the shaft 97 and raise the latter sufficiently todispose the head 103 above the path of the oscillating arm 105 on thevertical rock-shaft.

In the drawings the machine is represented as stopped during the processof knitting the heel of the stocking.

To start the machine at any time, the handle-arm of lever 69 is turneddownward, so as to move upward the other arm of the lever, and therebyforce forward the link in a manner to project the pin 61 into engagementwith the pulley 55. The link and lever-arm act as a togglejoint, beingin the open and broken positions when the pin 61 is engaged with anddisengaged from the pulley, respectively. hen the lever is turned tostart the machine, the arm 69 is moved downward, so as to lie below thepath of the shaft 97.

I shall now describe the mechanism which I have devised for impartingthe requisite intermittent rotary movements to the shaft 31, that isgeared with the bit-supporting segment hereinbefore alluded to. On shaft31,a suitable distance apart, are fixed two ratchetwheels 118 119, theteeth of which are oppositely pitched. Between these Wheels there aremounted on the shaft two levers 120 121, the rearwardly-extending armsof which extend upwardly and downwardly, respectively, as seen. On thesearms are pivoted pawls 122 123, respectively, which are adapted to beengaged with the respective wheels adjacent thereto at predeterminedintervals. The forward arms of the lovers are rounded concentricallywith the shaft 31, and are provided with gear-teeth, with which engagetoothed IIO p the stud thereon normally against the lever.

sectors 124 125, respectively, ona stud 126,

which is affixed to the frame in advance of the shaft 31. These sectorsare each provided with two forwardly-extending yoke-like arms 127, whichstraddle the shaft 59. On the latter shaft is fixed a cam 128, whichengages the respective arms of .the sectors, said cam being soconstructed that during the rotation of the shaft 59 they willoppositely oscillate the respective yoke-arms, and thus correspondinglyactuate the respective sectors. In consequence said sectors willsimultaneously oscillate thelevers 120 121, by which the pawls arecarried. Now if one of the pawlssay that marked 122be engaged with itsratchetwheel 118 and the other pawl be thrown out of action the activepawl will coact with the ratchet-wheel to turn the shaft step by step inone directionviz., that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4 and if thecondition of the pawls be reversed the lower pawl 123, coacting with theratchet-wheel 119, will turn the shaft 31 step by step in a reversedirection. When the pawl 123 is in action, the shaft is turned to raisethe bit-supporting segment, and when the pawl 122 is inaction the shaftis turned to lower said segment. Preparatory to the narrowingoperation-that is, at the commencement of the heel or the toe of thestockingthe pawl 122 is thrown into operation, thereby effecting therequisite movements of the shaft to lower the bit-supporting segmentduring each reciprocation of the cam-cylinder. Upon the completion ofthe narrowing and preparatory to the widening operation the pawl 122 isthrown out of action and the other pawl is broughtinto play, therebyeffecting the requisite reverse movements of the shaft to raise thebit-supporting segment periodically.

As a means to control the relative position of the pawls automaticallythere is fulcrumed on the shaft 31, intermediate the levers 120 121, avertically-disposed lever 129, the upper arm of which is connected bymeans of a link 130 (curved to clear the shaft 117) with a dependingarm'131 on the rock-shaft 100. ()n the outer end of this shaft is a toe132, that rides upon the links of the pattern-chain, the high and lowlink-faces of which effect the oscillation of the rock-shaft, theresulting movements being thereupon imparted by the intermediateconnections to the lever 129. The extremities of this lever are providedwith oppositelydisposed steps 133, and the pawls are equipped with studs134, that take against such extremities. V

Gravity maintains the stud on the upper pawl 122 in engagement with thelever, while a spring 135, which is affixed to the frames, bears againstthe lower pawl and maintains Hence when said lever is moved in onedirection the lower step bears against the stud on the pawl 123 andthrows the latter out of engagement with the ratchet, while, contrarily,the opposed step is removed from the stud on ings.

the upper pawl, which latter thereupon drops into engagement with itsratchet-wheel, and

vice versa.

During the knitting of the heel or the toe of the stocking the shaft 31is reciprocated that is, it makes a partial revolution intermittently inone direction while narrowing and a reverse revolution while widening.On this shaft is fixed a peripherally-notched wheel 136, the number ofnotches therein corresponding with the number of teeth on each of theratchet-wheels. One of these notches (noted Z) is'much deeper than theothers, for a purpose presently explained.

On the adjacent end of the rock-shaft 117, hereinbefore referred to,isfixed a rearwardlyextending pawl 137, the tooth of which bears upon theperiphery of the wheel 136, being maintained thereon by gravity or bythe action of a retracting-spring 138, one end of, which is secured tothe pawl and the other end to the supporting-frame. The parts are soconstructed that during tubular knitting the pawl 137 is engaged withthe deep notch in the wheel, andthe movable stud 115 is thus retractedfrom the housing, but during the heel and toe-fashioning operations thepawl rides upon the periphery of the wheel,

engaging the notches successively, and in that way it maintains the stud115 projected into the path of the cam on the clutch-bolt, as and forthe purpose above set forth.

In order that the bit-supporting segment may be lowered or raised byhand, should occasion require it, without disconcerting thepawl-and-ratchet mechanisms on the shaft 31, I have connected the pinion30 to the latter by means of a clutch-pin device that may be readilymanipulated to lock or release the pinion on the shaft.

Referring to Fig. 8, 139 is a collar formed on or affixed to the shaft31, adjacent to the inner side of the pinion 30, and 140 is a similarcollar loosely applied to the shaft on the opposite side of the pinion,which latter collar is provided with a suitable handle 141. 142 is a pinfitted to opposite perforations in the outer collar and'the pinion,respectively, and pressed normally inward by the action of a smallspiral spring 143, confined in said collar last named. The face of theinner collar is provided with a socket 144, with which the inner end ofthe pin is adapted to register, the outerend of said pin being providedwith a suitable knob. Normally the pin is engaged with the socket in thecollar 139, thus locking the pinion on the shaft; but if it be desiredto operate the pinion independently of the shaft the spring-controlledpin is retracted from the socketed collar, and the handle is thereuponproperly rotated by hand.

Recurring now to the mechanism for varying the tension of the stitchesduring the knitting of the ankle and foot portions of the stocking, 145is a longitudinallyarranged rock-shaft mounted in suitably-located bear-One end of this shaft is provided with IIO rzo

a depending arm 146, which is connected by means of a rod 147 with asimilar arm 148 on the shaft 23, hereinbefore described. The other endof the rock'shaft is equipped with an arm 149, that rides upon the linksof the pattern-chain. WVhen the arm is engaged with the raised face of alink, the parts are in position for the knitting of normal stitches; butwhen the arm is riding upon the plane or low faces of the succeedinglinks the rockarm and the connecting-rod are thrown forward, and theshaft 23 is thereby partially turned to effect a slight lowering of thebit and needle cylinders, and, perforce, a tightening of the stitches.Those links which are brought into play during the knitting of the heeland toe are provided with appropriate risers, which coact withfithe armon the rockshaft for the purpose stated.

In order that the relative tensions of the stitches during the knittingof the stocking may be nicely predetermined, I afiix to the bed-plate,concentric with the shaft 23, a graduated sector 150, (said shaftextending freely through a boss on the sector,) and I provide the arm148 with an upward handle extension 151, having a suitable lip thattraverses the edge of the sector. The rearward end of the rod 147 isscrew-threaded. It is extended through a perforated boss on thedepending arm 146 of the rock-shaft 145, and it is provided withset'nuts 152, whereby the point of connection of the boss with the rodmay be nicely adjusted. At the outset the handle extension is moved onthe sector to prescribe the length of the normal stitches, and therequisite adjustment of the boss on the connecting-rod is then effected.

The thread-reinforcing mechanism which I have devised is of thefollowing construction: Rising from the bed of the machine is a post orstandard 153, which supports an inwardlyextending arm 154:, the forwardend of which is preferably drooped and is provided with an eye 155 forthe passage of the main thread 156 on its way to the thread-guide.crumed on a suitably-disposed lug 157 on the arm is a take-up lever 158,of usual construction, the shorter or rigid arm thereof being connectedby means of a link 159 with one arm a of a tri-armed lever 160, which inits turn is fulorumed to a rearward lug on the supporting-arm. One ofthe arms I) of the lever 160 is extended rearward and is provided at itsextremity with an eye for the passage of the reinforcing-thread 161, thethird arm 0 being connected by means of a pin and slot with avertically-movable rod 162, which is guided in suitably-disposedbrackets 163. The lower end of the rod rests upon the free end of arearwardly-extending arm 164 on the pawl-bearing shaft 117, so as topartake of the movements of the pawl-thatis to say, when the pawlisengaged with the deep notch in the wheel 136 the arm, and therewith therod, is lowered, the spring-controlled arm of the take-up lever thusbeing depressed, and

when the pawlis riding upon the periphery of said wheel the parts occupya reverse position.

Supported in a pair of perforated lugs 165 on the arm 154 is ahorizontally-movable tube 166, on the body of which is a projection 167,which is connected by meansof a link 168 with the longer arm of abellcrank lever 169, the latter being fulcru med to a suitably-dis posedcollar 170 on the post. The shorter arm of this lever is connected bymeans of a link 171 with the rod 162, to the end that when said rod islowered the tube is moved forward, and when the rod is raised the tubeis retracted. On one side of the tube, near its forward end, is anopening 172, which is prefon which is pivoted a coacting blade 176, the

latter being in effect one arm of a bell-crank lever, the other arm ofwhich is pivotally connected with a horizontally-reciprocative rod 177,guided in lateral extensions of the lugs 165. On this rod, a suitabledistance apart, is a pair of collars 178, between which extends thepiece 167 on the tube 166, to the end that when the latter is movedforward, as above described, the piece will abut against the opposedcollar, and thereby advance the rod in a manner to move the pivotedblade upon the fixed blade with a shear-like action. When the tube isretracted, the piece 167 abuts against the other opposed collar on therod and returns the parts just named to their previous condition.

Suitably disposed on the fixed blade is a collar 179, which 1 term astripper, into which the forward end of the tube 166 is adapted to enterfreely. Fulcrumed on a lug on the inclined portion of the arm is atension lever 181, which I term a trap-lever, the upper arm of which isprovided with a lip, which extends over the tube and is adapted to actupon the main knitting-thread between it and the beveled face of lug165, while the lower arm of said lever is provided with an eye toreceive said thread on its passage to the take-up lever. On its way fromthe bobbin to the thread-carrier the main thread passes, in the firstplace, through one of the guide-eyes on the usual cross-bar 182, thencethrough an eye on the, lug 165 into and through the slot or kerf in thetube 166, then through the inclined tube 174, next through the eye onthe forward arm of the trap-lever, next through the take-up lever, and,finally, through the eye on the arm 154. The reinforcing-thread passesthrough the eye on the end of the arm I) of the lever 160, thencethrough the tube 166 and out through the kerf, as seen in Fig. 18.During tubular knitting (the pawl being engaged with the deep notch inthe wheel) the rod 162 is depressed, and in consequence the tension uponthe main thread is released and the guidetube is projected forward intothe stripper,

mencement of the heel or toe (the pawl riding upon the periphery of thewheel, as above stated) the rod 162 is elevated, in consequence of whichthe take-up lever is thrown upward and the tension is, perforce, exertedupon the main thread. At the same time the trap-lever is pressed uponthe latter thread, so as to hold it in place, and the tube is retracted,so as to .free the clamped end of the supplemental thread, which end,depending from the opening in the tube and lying contiguous to theingoing main thread, is carried by the latter to the knitting-needles.The combined threads are thus delivered to the needles during theknitting of the heel or toe, at the completion of either of whichoperations the rod is lowered in the manner above described, whereuponthe tube 166 is projected into the stripper and the reinforcing threaddrawn between the blades, the movable one of which being moved inward bythe advancement of the rod to effect the severance of thereinforcing-thread.

In this position the parts remain in readiness for a succeedingoperation.

The construction of pattern-chain which I have devised and prefer toemploy is shown most clearly in Figs. 5 and 12. Each of the linkscomprises a curved plate 183, provided withlaterallugs 184 on its underor concave surface and with appropriate risers 185 on its upper orconvex surface. The lower ends of the lugs are offset beyond the edge ofthe plate, while the upper ends of the lugs are correspondinglyforeshortened, to the end that when the lugs of the successive platesare connected the extensions thereof will embrace the contiguous plates,respectively. Said lugs are connected by means of cross-pins 186, therespective pins being preferably screw-threaded at one end and beingfitted to correspondingly-threaded orifices in the proximate lugs of theadjacent sections. The acting edges of the risers are rounded, so thatthey will assume a curve concentric with the sprocketwheel as theytravel on the latter, the meeting ends of the risers in the adjacentlinks being out under and rounded, respectively, (as at j and 7c,respectively,) so as to overlap and present a practically unbroken orcontinuous surface when the chain is flexed. Where the rounded upper endof a riser succeeds a plane portion of the link-plate, (as at 1,) suchportion will overlap the riser and remain in contact therewith while thelinks are on the sprocketwheel, thus presenting an uninterrupted sur- 7face to the parts controlled thereby.

I claim as my invention- 7 1. In a knitting machine, the combinatio ofthe needle-cylinder, the depending bit cylinder, and a latch devicewhereby said cylin ders may be locked together or released, sub-'stantiall-y as described.

scribed.

3. The combination, with the needle cylinder and the cam cylinder, ofthe interposed ring, pins extending therefrom through slots or recessesin the top of the latter cylinder, and latch plates on the cam cylinderadapted to engage said pins, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the needle cylinder, its needles, the camcylinder, its knitting cams, the needle-controlling step device, andmeans for supporting and operating the latter, of means whereby theneedles are raised above the normal height of the stitch cams,alternately, during the successive strokes of the cam cylinder, whilereciprocating, in order to effect the disengagement of certain needlesfrom said step device at predetermined intervals, substantially asdescribed.

interior of the cam cylinder alternately, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the cam-cylinder, and its knitting cams, ofradially-reciprocative stud cams mounted in said cylinder adjacent tothe lateral stitch cams, a lever connecting said stud cams, and meansfor oscillating said lever so as to project said stud cams into, andretract them from, the interior of the cam cylinder, substantially asdescribed.

7. The combination, with the cam cylinder, and its knitting cams, ofradially-reciprocative stud cams mounted in said cylinder adjacent tothe lateral stitch cams, a lever connecting said stud cams, and meansfor oscillating said lever so as to project said stud cams into andretract them from, the interior of the cam cylinder, and meansforretaining said stud cams in their respective positions, substantiallyas described.

8. The combination, with the cam cylinder, and its knitting cams, ofradially-reciprocative stud-cams mounted in said cylinder adjacent tothe lateral stitch-cams, a lever connecting said stud cams,a pivotedtappet arm connected with said lever, and means for operating said armat predetermined intervals, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the needle cylinder, its needles, the camcylinder and its cams, of the driving shaft, gearing between the sameand the cam cylinder, fast and loose pulleys on said shaft, a secondshaft, normally inactive transmitting mechanism between said IIO shafts,and means whereby said mechanism is operatively engaged with the loosepulley so as to turn the said second shaft continuously in onedirection,two sets of oppositely-acting transmitting mechanisms betweenthe shafts, means whereby said transmitting mechanisms are alternatelyengaged with and disengaged from the driving shaft, and a connectionbetween one of said last-named transmitting mechanisms and mechanismfirst-named together with a belt shipper, and means for operating thesame to transfer the belt from one pulley to the other at predeterminedintervals, substantially as described.

10. The combination, with the needle cylinder, its needles, the camcylinder and its cams, of the driving shaft, gearing between the sameand the cam cylinder, the fast and loose pulleys on said shaft, a pinionthereon adjacent to the loose pulley, a clutch device adapted to engageor disengage said pinion and pulley, a second shaft, a fixed spur wheelthereon in gear with said pinion, an adjacent looselymounted spur wheelon said shaft, a transmitting device between said spur wheels, a secondpinion mounted on the driving shaft and geared with said loose spurwheel, a sprocket wheel on said driving shaft, a clutch device betweenthe same andsaid second pinion, means for operating said clutch device,a sprocket wheel on the said second shaft, and a chain connecting thetwo sprocket wheels, substantially as described.

11. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the driving shaft, andthe fast and loose pulleys thereon, of the belt-shipper frame, asupporting shaft therefor, a bodily movable frame in which said lattershaft is mounted, means for retracting the shipper frame to maintain theshipper normally adjacent to the loose pulley, a power transmittingdevice adjacent to the loose pulley, means to connect said device withthe loose pulley, a rock-shaft, a driven shaft provided with means foroperating the rock-shaft, provisions whereby said driven shaft isconnected with the said power transmitting device, an arm on saidrockshaft, and a head on the shipper frame supporting shaft in the pathof said arm, substantially as described.

12. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the driving shaft, thefast and loose pulleys thereon, the pattern chain and means forsupporting and operating it, of the'belt shipper frame, its shaft, avibratory support for the latter, said support being constructed to beoperated by the pattern chain, means for retracting the shipper shaft tomaintain the shipper normally adjacent to one of the pulleys, arock-shaft, means for operating the same, and co-acting devices on saidrock and shipper shafts adapted to effect the movement of the shipper tothe other pulley, substantially as described.

13. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the driving shaft, andthe fast and loose pulleys thereon, of a belt shipper frame, its

shaft, a vibratory support for the said shaft, means for retracting theshipper shaft to maintain the shipper frame normally adjacent to theloose pulley, means for maintaining said frame adjacent to the fastpulley, and a lever, one arm of which is constructed and arranged toraise the shipper shaft bodily and release the same when the lever isoperated during tubular knitting, substantially as described.

14. In a knitting machine,the combination with the driving shaft, of ablock or head affixed thereto, a sliding clutch bolt on said head, powertransmitting mechanisms adja cent to the respective ends of said head, adouble inclined cam fixed on said bolt, a stud or projection arrangedfixedly in the path of one of the inclines of the cam, a stud movableinto and out of the path of the other incline of the cam, a guide forthe latter stud and means for operating said movable stud atpredetermined intervals,substantially as described.

15. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the driving shaft, ofan intermittently rotatable shaft adjacent thereto, pattern mechanism onsaid latter shaft, the two outer ratchet wheels fast on the shaft, andthe two inner wheels connected by a sleeve which is loosely mounted onthe shaft, all said wheels having a corresponding number ofsimilarlypitched teeth, but the inner loosely mounted wheels beinglarger in diameter than the others, the alternate teeth of one of theinner wheels being deepened so as to register with the correspondingteeth in the adjacent outer wheel, and two diametrically-opposite teethof the other inner wheel being deepened to register with the proximateteeth of the adjacent outer wheel, the pawls co-acting with said wheels,as described, eccentrics on the driving shaft operatively connected withsaid pawls, a rock-shaft provided with means adapted to move one of thepawls periodically out of action and provided with means by which theshaft is controlled by the pattern chain, substantially as described.

16. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the needle cylinder,its needles, the cam cylinder and its cams, of the needle-controllingstep-device, and means for supporting the same, a shaft, provisionswhereby it is geared with said step-device, a pair of oppositely-pitchedratchet wheels on said shaft, levers on said shaftprovided with pawlsadapted to engage the ratchet wheels respectively, a cam shaft, itscams, arms actuated by said cams, means whereby said arms areoperatively connected with the pawl-bearing levers, a lever on saidfirst-named shaft provided with cams on its respective arms constructedto act upon the pawls to render them idle and active alternately, andmeans for operating said cam lever at predetermined intervals,substantially as described.

17. In a knitting machine, the combination with the needle cylinder, itneedles, the cam cylinder and its cams, of the needle-controlling stepdevice, and means for supporting the same, a shaft, provisions wherebyit is geared with said step-device, a pair of oppositely-pitched ratchetwheels on said shaft,

levers on said shaft provided with pawls adapted to engage the ratchetwheels respectively, toothed sectors geared with said levers providedeach with forked or yoke-like arms, a shaft adjacent to said arms, a camon said shaft co-acting with the arms, means for rotating said shaft atpredetermined intervals, and means for rendering the respective pawlsidle and active alternately, substantially as intervals, a pinionengaged with said rack, a

clutch device adapted to lock or release the pinion on the shaft, andmeans for turning the pinion independently of the shaft, substantiallyas described.

19. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the needle cylinder,its needles, the cam cylinder and its cams, of the needle-controllingstep-device and means for supporting the same, an intermittentlyrotatable shaft, provisions whereby it is geared withsaid stepdevice, adriving shaft, means whereby it is geared with the cam cylinder,mechanism intermediate the driving shaft and said firstnamed shaftadapted to impart the requisite movements thereto, oppositely-actingtransmitting devices on said driving shaft, an intermediate clutch bolt,the support therefor, a double inclined cam on said bolt, a fixed studin the path of one of the inclines of the cam, a stud movable into andout of the path of the other incline of the cam, a rock-shaft,provisions whereby it is connected with said movable stud, a pawl onsaid rock-shaft, and a peripherally notched wheel mounted on the firstnamed shaft and engaged by said pawl, substantially as described.

20. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the needle cylinder,its needles, the cam cylinder and its cams, of a tension regulatingshaft provided with gear teeth, its support, a depending portion on theneedle cylinder provided with gear teeth that are engaged by those onthe shaft, and means whereby said shaft is automatically operated atpredetermined stages of the knitting operation, substantially asdescribed.

21. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the needle cylinder,its needles,the cam cylinder and its cams, of a tension regulatingshaft, its support,,provisions whereby said shaft is operativelyconnected with the needle cylinder to effect longitudinal adjustment ofthe latter, an arm on said shaft, a rockshaft, an arm thereon, a rodconnecting said arms, and ineans for automatically operating saidrock-shaft at predetermined stages of the knitting operation,substantially as described.

22. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the needle cylinder,its needles, the bit cylinder, its bits, the cam cylinder and its cams,of a tension-regulating shaft provided with gear teeth constructed toengage corresponding teeth in the bit cylinder, a fixed support for saidshaft, an arm thereon, a rockshaft, an arm thereon, a rod connectingsaid arms 8, and means for operating said rockshaft at predeterminedstages'of. the knitting operation, substantially as described.

23. In a knitting machine, the combination, with the needle cylinder,its needles, the cam cylinder and its cams, of a tension regulatingshaft, its support, provisions whereby said shaft is operativelyconnected With the needle cylinder to effect longitudinal adjustment ofthe latter, an arm and a handle on said shaft, a sector adjacent to thehandle, a rock-shaft, an arm thereon, a rod connecting said arms, meanswhereby one end of the rod is adjustably connected with the proximatearm, and means for operating said shaft at predeter mined intervals,substantially as described.

24. The combination of a guide for the main knitting thread, a guidetube for an additional thread, said tube being provided with a lateralopening through which the threads extend, and means forreciprocatingsaid tube, substantially as described.

25. The combination of a guide for the main knitting thread, ahorizontally disposed guide tube for an additional thread, said tubebeing provided with an inclined slot near the forward end thereof,through which slot the threads extend, and means for reciprocating saidtube,-substantia1ly as described.

26. The combination of a guide for-the main knitting thread, a guidetube for an additional thread, said tube being provided with a lateralopening through which the threads extend and means for reciprocatingsaid tube, together with means for severing the additional thread,substantially as described.

27. The combination ofaguide for the main knitting thread, a guide tubefor an additional thread, means for reciprocating said tube and a collaror clamp member fixed in advance of said tube, and adapted to receivethe nose of the latter to clamp the extending end of the additionalthread, substantially as described.

28. The combination of a guide for the main knitting thread, a guidetube for an additional thread, means for reciprocating said tube, and acollar or clamp member fixed in advance of said tube, and adapted toreceive the nose of the latter to clamp the extending end of theadditional thread, together with means for severing the additionalthread when the tube is advanced, substantially as described.

29. The combination of a guide for the main knitting thread, a guidetube for an additional thread, said tube being provided with a lateralopening through which the threads extend, and a collar or clamp memberfixed in advance of said tube and adapted to receive the nose of thelatter so as to clamp the extending end of the supplemental thread,substantially as described.

30. The combination of an arm provided with a thread guide, a take-uplever, supported on the arm, a reciprocative thread guide tube on saidarm, means for reciprocating said tube, and means for operating thetake-up lever simultaneously with said tube, so as to reduce the tensionupon the main thread when the tube is projected, and the converse,substantially as described.

31. The combination of an arm provided with a thread guide, a take-uplever supported on the arm, a reciprocative threadguide tube on saidarm, means for reciprocating said tube, and means for operating thetake-up lever simultaneously with said tube, so as to reduce the tensionupon the thread when the tube is projected, and the converse, togetherwith the trap-lever through which the thread extends on its way to thetake-up lever, substantially as described.

32. The combination of the vertical post, the arm thereon, thereciprocative guide tube, the collar, its support, the co-acting blades,means whereby they are actuated by the movements of the tube, abell-crank lever pivoted to the post and linked with said tube,

a vertically-reciprocative rod linked with said lever, the lever 160connected with said rod, and the take-up lever linked with the lever160, substantially as described.

33. The described pattern chain for knitting machines, the links of thechain comprising a series of curved plates provided with lateral lugs ontheir under or concave sides and with appropriate risers on their outeror convex sides, the upper ends of the risers being rounded and thelower ends thereof extended and out under and the meeting ends of therespective links being detachably connected, the ends of the succeedingrisers overlapping each other and the upper ends of all the riserscurving inwardly beyond the adjacent curved plates of the respectivelinks, whereby the meeting ends of the risers present an uninterruptedsurface when the chain is flexed and whereby when a riser succeeds aplane or plate portion, of the link such portion when the chain isflexed overlaps the riser, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. ZELLERS. Witnesses:

JOHN R. NOLAN, A. V. GROUP.

